Obituary: Harold (Hal) B. Kosanke

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Harold (Hal) B. Kosanke, 93, passed away Sunday morning, May 27, 2012, at his home in Shannon Terrace, Easton, Minn.Born Oct. 19, 1918, in Waterloo, Iowa, to Jack and Birdie Kosanke, the family moved to St. Paul, Minn., where he was raised. Hal attended Mechanics Arts High School and the University of Minnesota, and was a very competitive All City and All State basketball star. He served in the Navy during WWII in radar on the USS Omar Bundy troop transport in the Pacific. He married his high school sweetheart, Grace Jean (GJ) Stubbs, with whom he raised three children and was married for 72 years.Hal was an executive with 3M Company for 36 years, founding companies in South Africa and Italy, managing sales for Europe and as managing director of England and Australia. He ultimately transferred back to the 3M St. Paul headquarters as a corporate executive from which he eventually retired.Hal and GJ divided their next years enjoying their homes in Palm Desert, Calif., and Incline Village in Lake Tahoe, Nev., where Hal could help GJ entertain and concentrate on his competitive passions of golf, duplicate bridge, and cribbage. He then became an active part of the Easton community of William Hill Manor in May of 2008, where he spent his last years.A devoted husband and father, he is survived by his beloved wife, Grace Jean; his daughter and son-in-law, Sandy and Dan Frantz of Easton; his first son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Suzanne Kosanke of Portland, Ore.; and his second son, Gregg Kosanke of Guam. He is additionally survived by five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.A celebration of life service was already held in the Auditorium of William Hill Manor, Dutchman's Lane, Easton, Minn.In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the charity of your choice in his name.Arrangements are being handled by Fellows, Helfenbein andamp; Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., Easton. For online tributes, please visit www.fhnfuneralhome.com.